Xabi Alonso was passed over as the Liverpool players “choose who they want to replace Jurgen Klopp.”

After almost nine years in charge of the Anfield team, Jurgen Klopp is quitting Liverpool at the end of the current campaign. The German manager cites tiredness as a motivating reason.

The players at Liverpool want Pep Lijnders, who is currently ranked second under Jurgen Klopp, to take over as manager instead of current favourite Xabi Alonso.

The talkSPORT duo Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders assert that they have insider knowledge indicating the Reds team is eager for Klopp’s deputy to assume control in order to minimise any inconvenience.

When Klopp revealed in January that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the current campaign, following almost nine years in command of the Anfield club, the football world was shocked.

The German said that tiredness was a major role in his decision to step down, and he added that he thought Liverpool was in an excellent position for a new manager to take over and make immediate progress.

Brazil stated on talkSPORT that “I am told the players wouldn’t mind the number two, Pep taking over” in reference to what lies ahead for Liverpool. Saunders went on, “I heard that too. Lijnders, at least, is aware of what is happening there. It’s challenging; to whom do you assign the task? That club is really large.”

When Lijnders first joined Liverpool in 2014, he collaborated with Brendan Rodgers. When Klopp took over in 2015, he kept him on, but the Dutchman left Liverpool after three seasons to take over NEC in the Netherlands.

Lijnders spent a year in his own country before coming back to Anfield in 2018 and helping Liverpool win the Premier League and Champions League.

Beyond this season, Lijnders’ future is uncertain because Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso is ranked higher than him in the running to succeed Klopp as Liverpool’s manager.

Additionally, Lijnders has hinted that he will leave Liverpool with Klopp and that he would not desire the head position there. “Nobody will replace Jurgen,” he declared. To be honest, I was clear when we had the conversation a long time ago; it made things easier for me.

“In the summer, we realised that this endeavour was coming to an end. There’s too much focus on me—we have a 48-hour final game. I believe I have answered questions in interviews because I understand.

“My heart always says yes to offers, but my loyalty to Jurgen and Mike Gordon says no.” Therefore, it is appropriate that we complete this endeavour together, as we have decided to do.

The favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp is Xabi Alonso.

“They’ll have a new coach with ideas, and I’m thrilled that I was able to locate the ideal team. However, I will only be thinking about Liverpool until the season’s final, which is why we have agents, right?

With a game remaining, Alonso, a Reds player from 2004 to 2009, has led his Leverkusen team to the top of the Bundesliga, seven points ahead of Bayern Munich.

But Bayern, who have announced that Thomas Tuchel will step down, are also taking notice of the Spaniard. They are looking for a new manager at the end of the current campaign.

When asked about his future and the attention he has received from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, Alonso has been evasive. “I’m currently presuming that [I’ll be the Bayer Leverkusen manager come next season].”

“I am the coach right now, no doubt about it. I have nothing fresh to say about the future. Let’s see. Although it’s acceptable to have questions, now is not the time to discuss them.”